What it's Like to be a Network Engineer...

...translated into normal people speak

 User: I think we are having a major road issue.

 Me: What? No, I just checked, the roads are fine. I was actually just on the roads.

 User: No, I’m pretty sure the roads are down because I’m not getting pizzas.

 Me: Everything else on the roads is fine. What do you mean you aren’t getting pizzas?

 User: I used to get pizzas when I ordered them, now I’m not getting them. It has to be a road issue.

 Me: As I said, the roads are fine. Where are you getting pizzas from?

 User: I’m not really sure. Can you check all places that deliver pizzas?

 Me: No I don’t even know all the places that deliver pizza. You need to narrow it down.

 User: I think it is Subway.

 Me: Okay, I’ll check…No, I just looked and Subway doesn't deliver pizzas.

 User: I’m pretty sure it is Subway. Can you just allow all food from Subway and we can see if pizza shows up?

 Me: Sigh, fine I’ve allowed all food from Subway, but I don’t think that is the issue.

 User: Yeah I’m still not getting pizza. Can you check the roads?

 Me: It’s not the roads, the roads are fine. I’m pretty sure Subway isn’t the place.

 User: Okay, I found it. It’s Papa Johns.

 Me: Okay, I looked and Papa Johns does deliver pizza. Is it the local Papa Johns or one in a different town?

 User: I don’t know. Can you allow pizza from all Papa Johns to me?

 Me: No I can’t do that. Can you get me an address for Papa Johns?

 User: No, I only know it as Papa Johns. Can you get me all the addresses of all Papa Johns and I’ll tell you if one of them is correct?

 Me: No, I don’t have time for that. Okay, I looked at the local one and it looks like they have sent you pizza in the past and they are currently allowed to send you pizzas. Try ordering a pizza while I watch.

 User: Yeah still no pizza. I’m guessing they are getting blocked at the freeway. Can you check the freeway to make sure they can get through?

 Me: No, this is a local delivery. They aren't even using the freeway.

 User: Okay, well then it has to be a road issue.

 Me: No, the roads are fine. Okay, I just drove from the Papa Johns to the address they have on file for you and there is nothing there.

 User: Hmm, wait we did move recently.

 Me: Did you give your new address to Papa Johns?

 User: No, I just thought they would be able to look me up by name.

 Me: No they need your new address. What’s your new address?

 User: I’m not really sure. Can you look it up?

 Me: Sigh, give me a second…Okay, I found your address and gave it to Papa Johns. Try ordering a pizza now.

 User: HEY! PIZZA JUST SHOWED UP!

 Me: Okay, good.

 User: (To everyone else they know) I apologize for the delay in the pizza but there was a major road issue that was preventing the pizza from getting to me. The network engineer has fixed the roads and we are able to get pizza again.

 Me: But it wasn’t the roads…whatever.

 User: Oh, can you also check on an issue where Chinese food isn’t getting to me? I think it may be a road issue.

Mark Taylor

Sr. Manager Global Network Operations at Leggett & Platt

1mo

Perfect storyline. All my engineers agree...

Ken Tran

Staff Network/DevOps (2 x CCIE #15842 R&S and Wireless), MSc, Dr. Engineering in AI/ML candidate, Engineer at AirBnB

10mo

lol.. so true.. and the sad part is that it happens quite often!!

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Alin Stefanescu

Global Network Solutions Architect at M247

10mo

Yes yes yes!

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Mike Hart

CISO, Executive Director of CyberSecurity and Data Assurance

10mo

My networking team appreciated this greatly!

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Matthew Spellicy

IT Systems Engineer I | Military Veteran | AI & ML enthusiast | Entrepreneur | The Matt & Monica Podcast - Promoting Hope, Positivity & Inspiration to Solopreneurs & Entrepreneurs weekly.

10mo

Love it.

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